Gouldsboro State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gouldsboro State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Monroe County and Wayne County, Pennsylvania USA |
| Nearest city: | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 2,880 acres (11.65 km²) |
| Established: | 1958 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Gouldsboro State Park is a 2,880 acre (11.65 km²) Pennsylvania state park in Monroe and Wayne Counties, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park includes the 250 acre Gouldsboro Lake. Gouldsboro State Park is located very close to Tobyhanna State Park and Pennsylvania State Game Lands 127 and 312. It is on Pennsylvania Route 507 near the small village of Gouldsboro.
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[edit] History
Gouldsboro State Park is named for Gouldsboro, which was in turn named for Jay Gould (1836 - 1892). Gould, a native of New York, acquired an immense fortune during the Industrial Revolution, part of which included ownership of ten percent of all the railroad track in the United States at the time of his death. One of his railroads passed by what is now the eastern boundary of the park. Gould was also the co-owner of a tannery in nearby Thornhurst. Raw hides were shipped from the western United States and Australia on the railroads owned by Gould to Gouldsboro. The hides were then sent to Thornhurst by way of wagons traversing a plank road.
As of 2006, this rail line forms the dividing line bewteen Gouldsboro State Park and Tobyhanna State Park in Monroe County, and is owned by the Lackawanna County Railroad Authority and operated by the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Co. Inc. Tourist excursions on this line are operated by Steamtown National Historic Site, and run from Steamtown's yard in Scranton to Tobyhanna.
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Gouldsboro Lake
Gouldsboro Lake is a 250 acre man made lake. It is open to boating, swimming, fishing and ice fishing. Gas powered boats are prohibited on Gouldsboro Lake. Electric powered and non powered boats must have current registration from any state, or a launch permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. A beach at the lake is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Swim at your own risk, as lifeguards are not provided. Gouldsboro Lake is a warm water fishery. The common game fish are pickerel, yellow perch, bass, walleye, sunfish, muskellunge, and catfish. Gouldsboro Lake is also a popular ice fishing destination, however the thickness of the ice is not monitored by the park staff so visitors are asked to use caution when venturing out onto the ice.
[edit] Hunting and trapping
Hunting is permitted at Gouldsboro State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, black bear, and snowshoe hare. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. The trapping of muskrats, raccoons, beaver, mink, fox, and coyote is permitted with the proper license.
[edit] Picnics
Gouldsboro State Park has five picnic areas with about 300 picnic tables. All five picnic areas are shaded and open year round. There is one pavilion with an elecric hook-up.
[edit] Trails
- Old Route 611 is a 1.25 mile (2.01 km) "easy" trail that is flat and wide and runs parallel to Interstate 380 on the western edge of the park. The trail is open to hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing.
- Prospect Rock Trail is a 5.8 mile (9.3 km) "difficult" trail that is a loop that begins and ends in the day use area, passing over some very rugged terrain.
- Frank Gantz Trail is a 3.2 mile (5.2 km) "difficult" trail that connects Gouldsboro State Park with Tobyhanna State Park. The trail is very rocky and therefore very demanding, with an estimated round trip completion time of three hours.
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Gouldsboro State Park:
- Archbald Pothole State Park (Lackawanna County
- Beltzville State Park (Carbon County)
- Big Pocono State Park (Monroe County)
- Frances Slocum State Park (Luzerne County)
- Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center (Northampton County)
- Hickory Run State Park (Carbon County)
- Lackawanna State Park (Lackawanna County)
- Lehigh Gorge State Park (Carbon and Luzerne Counties)
- Nescopeck State Park (Luzerne County)
- Promised Land State Park (Pike County)
- Prompton State Park (Wayne County)
- Tobyhanna State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
- Varden Conservation Area (Wayne County)
[edit] References
- Gouldsboro State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on December 30, 2006.
- Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on February 13, 2007. Note: Histories of both state parks
- United States Geological Survey. Gouldsboro State Park, USGS Tobyhanna (PA) Topo Map. Topozone. Retrieved on December 30, 2006.
- Map Reference for Gouldsboro State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on December 30, 2006.
- Steamtown: Tobyhanna, PA Excursion. National Park Service, US Department of the Interior. Retrieved on December 30, 2006.
- 2006 Railroad Map of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved on December 30, 2006. (shows owners and operators)
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. "2006 General Highway Map of Monroe County". Retrieved on December 30, 2006. Note: shows Gouldsboro State Park
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. "2006 General Highway Map of Wayne County". Retrieved on December 30, 2006. Note: shows Gouldsboro State Park
